<p>I am in my fourth year of college currently. In the past few months I have lost about 10 pounds. I have always been small but now weigh about 88 pounds. I am 21 and 5'3". I have tried eating more, but I can't seem to gain weight. What do I do?</p>
<p>You should see your doctor. There are many medical conditions that can cause weight loss.
It’s unusual for people to lose weight if they’re not trying. How’s your appetite, mood, and general energy? Have you noticed anything else new about your body or mood?</p>
<p>I believe the problem is major depression and anxiety. They cause my appetite to be non-existent when combined with the stress of school. I am on medicine for that but it isn’t helping my appetite. I have no energy because I don’t weigh enough and feel like crap in general all the time. When I do ask a doctor about it, they focus on questions like asking me if I throw up after I eat, like I’m trying to lose weight. I’m not at all. It isn’t active at all. It just happens. Then they tell me to eat more. I also don’t feel like it’s that simple. At this point, my stomach has shrunk so it’s very difficult for me to eat more than a little bit. I feel like I’m deteriorating.</p>
<p>What type of doctor are you seeing? Sounds like you need to see a therapist ASAP!</p>
<p>I have seen psychiatrists, psychologists and general doctors that specialize in eating disorders, hence the questions about trying to lose weight. They do things like make me step on the scale backwards but don’t provide me any real meaningful help other than telling me to eat more. I don’t believe I have an eating disorder in the way people normally view them. But when I get stressed I don’t eat. I am going to try to eat 5-6 meals a day at 600 calories each, but I don’t know if I will be able to start out eating that much. I probably had less than 1000 calories yesterday because I can’t eat much. :/</p>
<p>There are high calorie protein bars that you could eat. Not bad tasting. You just need to eat higher calorie foods but try to keep them nutritious. Smoothies, shakes, would up your calories without being overly filling. Your loss of weight is probably a big part of why you feel bad. Your body goes into conservation mode and doesn’t want to be active. You could also drink ensure which will help with maintaining a strong bone structure. I think these caloric drinks are a way to possibly get more calories without eating a lot of calories. Try to walk or exercise more too as that helps to naturally destress the body and will work up an appetite.</p>
<p>I walk quite a bit around campus, so I burn quite a few calories, and have been drinking ensure for about a week. My doctor told me to avoid exercise if at all possible. The last time I tried to really exercise my heart rate went up to 180. I feel like at this point I may need to force myself to eat, even though I have no appetite, to stretch out my stomach and train my body to feel hungry again.</p>
<p>Call your family and tell them you need to seek medical help for your eating disorder, that you are spiraling downward.
Is your post here a cry for help?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call it a cry for help. I’m just asking for other people’s opinions, because I’m getting increasingly more worried. I have the support of my mom and boyfriend, who both agree I’m too small, but nothing is seeming to help me gain weight. I think I’m going to attempt to eat 5-6 600 calorie meals a day, which would put me at 3000-3600 calories a day. That should theoretically help me gain 2-3 pounds a week. Plus I’m drinking ensure. Maybe I’m just freaking out too soon. I’ve only been trying to gain weight for about a week…</p>
<p>If your doctor feels there is no medical explanation for your weight loss, perhaps s/he would consider referring you to a nutritionist.</p>
<p>I’ve tried that too. They try to pressure me into eating meat (I’ve been a vegetarian for 8-9 years) and say that my “eating disorder” is the reason I don’t eat it. I didn’t go to that nutritionist again. lol I will take your advice, however, and give the lady another try. Thanks :)</p>
<p>Seek professional medical help.
What else can a bunch of strangers tell you?</p>
<p>Do you, or do you not, take in enough calories to gain weight? Only serious Olympic type athletes need 5000 calories a day to gain. Oh, I see; you are shooting for 3600 cals. Still; a nutritionist will help you with food choices if you are open to them. It’s hard to get enough protein and iron without a lot of volume.</p>
<p>I have a friend who is a vegetarian. She has to be careful to get enough protein or she does get weak and sickly. I’m sure you know tofu, beans and nuts are good sources. Nuts are something you could just snack on all day if needed. They also are somewhat high in calories which is what you need. I’m glad you have people supporting you. Good luck and see how this week goes. If you see even the slightest improvement you are going in the right direction. Also eliminate caffeine which can dehydrate you and again cause you to feel tired and unmotivated. Especially if you aren’t consuming enough. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!</p>
<p>Hey guys! I know it has been a while, but for any new people who see this it would be nice for an update. My weight loss was caused from stress. I am now 17 weeks pregnant and weigh about 105 pounds, so about a 17 pound increase. I feel a lot better now that I weigh more. And it prevented what I’m sure what have been a miscarriage had I not gained weight. So me and the baby are both way more happy 
And of course now I have no problem making sure I eat, since I have baby to worry about.</p>